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**fossiltx3** · 06-22-2011, 04:23 AM

Dude thats a sick build/resto job youve got going on. Just read your thread so far and its purdy as.......can hear my BG ford laser TX3i (escort to you guys) complaining lol

**labeo** · 06-22-2011, 05:24 AM

Looking cool! I think in sunlight it would be much better, lol

**Wilyb** · 06-22-2011, 08:01 AM

Originally posted by 93BlkOnGreenPro View Post

Good progress! Why not just paint the whole car and be done with it? Then the GT would be super fresh!

I hear you...however this is the way I see it... You bring your car to a body shop for a complete paint job. they charge you $2000 minimum... lets say $3000 for a supposed good job..Your car is in there for 3 weeks...that's a grand a week...A body shop would not survive paying a guy his salary (if there is only one guy on the car) the cost of materials, paints, taking up garage space, cost of building, utilities and other tangible and intangible costs. So they do the work as quick as possible; cutting corners, really...and the end result is rust peeking through not even a year later along with spots that should have been given more attention.

I figure I work one section at a time to get it cleaned up rust free etc. I cover my work with a fresh coat of paint to protect it. Once it's all done, then I can pay the cash it takes for the body shop to do the job properly... Which would basically be rough up the paint, find and fill small dents and imperfections, and paint with a high quality base coat and clear.

If I was to take it to a shop now, I know for sure the job they would do on my rocker panels and door bottoms will be nothing like the job I'm going to do on them in the very near future... next project

Chad: lol... another one... yeah, I hear it more than I want to and I sympathize with you all, and in my defense all I can say is the car had the yellow when I got it so I kept it up, and I think it actually looks better looking at it in living color...I like the yellow... I've owned 7 of these cars in total ( down to 3) and the yellow gives the car a welcome different look...

Fossil thx for the acknowledgements. I'm getting closer to the mechanical end of things, I just want something solid and clean before I juice it up... Waiting in the corner of the garage waiting to be installed are ( Front) my ZX2 subframe, tieplate and sway bar, MX3 LCA's, stainless steel LCA bushings with modified caster angles, Ksport 36 way adjustable coilovers, GTX front strut bar, MX3 steering rack...

In the rear I think I'll put the MX3 rear Subframe as it's a bit beefier (still have it) MX3 rear TTL's, Superpro bushings, Corksport type II rear strut bar...

Wow... there's more than I thought... oh I almost forgot about the VF12...but that will wait for quite some time...unless I want to just install it with the existing engine, take the bugs out of it / set it up and ready it for the rebuilt engine... I do have 3 of them after all...

**Wilyb** · 06-22-2011, 09:26 PM

More JDM Goodness

Fogs installed and working!!! Woohoo!!

With a GTR fog bumper it'll look SICK!!!

Nonetheless, car looks good as is for now, won't post a daytime pic until the hood is buffed... trust me; it needs it...

Night shot:

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**Mazda_Powered** · 06-22-2011, 09:34 PM

nice and bright lol that's for damn sure

**Wilyb** · 06-25-2011, 07:35 PM

Finally!

Finally finished leathering the sunroof panel, riveted the plastic sliders back on and installed that and the sunroof...it looks friggin' awesome!!

I've got some minor sunroof adjustments to make, so I'll read up on that torque nut some more... I still need to help the tilt with my hand and it doesn't seem to want to close the way it's supposed to... I'm sure it's just a matter of adjustment...

So this meant I was able to wash the car, so I did...Had to wash it in order to start buffing it tmw...

I'll get some pics of the interior once I install the black sun visors...not the best pic but here is the finished front end...

and yeah, MP... the fogs are really bright!!

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**FE3-323** · 06-25-2011, 07:53 PM

gotta ditch the yellow fogs mang. everything else looks top notch. that must of been a PITA to pull the sunroof slide out

**Mazda_Powered** · 06-25-2011, 08:46 PM

I think the yellow fogs look nice lol

**labeo** · 06-26-2011, 02:58 AM

Originally posted by Wilyb View Post

Finally finished leathering the sunroof panel, riveted the plastic sliders back on and installed that and the sunroof...it looks friggin' awesome!!

Did you use imitation leather or genuine leather? Anyway it looks cool! )
Have foglights H3 bulbs? Well, we're waiting for real fog to test them, lol

**Wilyb** · 06-26-2011, 07:05 AM

Originally posted by labeo View Post

Did you use imitation leather or genuine leather? Anyway it looks cool! )
Have foglights H3 bulbs? Well, we're waiting for real fog to test them, lol

The yellow is vinyl, the same stuff they use on boat seats. The black is bonded leather, which is a nice way of saying shredded leather glued together and coated with a vinyl film. It is quite soft however, and I think I still have enough to do the seats. Other than gauges and maybe a couple of LED's strategically placed, once the seats are reupholstered and the floor carpet is replaced with an asphalt black one, that should be it for the interior... Should be...

I thought I had a burned out bulb at first when 1 fog wasn't working. I pulled out the bulb which is connected to a long wire that cannot be removed. Inspected, cleaned and rewired them now they both work, but didn't take the time to check the markings on them... looking online now, yes they look like the H3

Up at 07:30 this morning...let the buffing and polishing begin

**Mazda_Powered** · 06-26-2011, 11:24 AM

sweet, all the luck lol.

Are you ordering a new carpet? Or just cleaning up an mx-3 carpet?

**Wilyb** · 06-27-2011, 04:55 PM

Originally posted by Mazda_Powered View Post

sweet, all the luck lol.

Are you ordering a new carpet? Or just cleaning up an mx-3 carpet?

Buying brand new for a Protege...ultra plush...here is the link:

90-95 Mazda Protege Carpet 4 Door Sedan, FWD

http://www.stockinteriors.com/AutoCarpet.asp?Itemid=8161&MakeId=17&ModelId=440

1990-1995 Mazda Protege carpet Heat and Pressure Molded to the original floor pan, made with Top Quality auto carpet materials. Carpet fits Mazda Protege 4 Door Sedan, FWD just like OEM when installed.

**Wilyb** · 06-29-2011, 04:03 PM

as good as it gets

This is as good as it's going to get this summer...

Finished removing the tint from the rear window...I thought it would take me all day to do it, but looked on you tube and saw that using a steamer sped things up... shoot!! I have one of those!!! so all day became 2 hours, used acetone to remove the remaining glue.... forget about that goo gone... tried that stuff... trust me... acetone works much better...

Then I leathered up the rear speaker panel as you can see...installed the rear seats,and that's it...this is enough...now to enjoy it a bit... plating it friday!!!

think I'll start on the front subframe and stuff...and save my money for some rims and tires... baby needs new shoes...

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